The teardrop island is particularly proud of its natural bounty, and rightly so. For thousands of years, vast swathes of land have been protected by Sri Lankan royalty, preserved as sanctuaries for nature to thrive and even today, countless areas of protected land exist on the island. Despite its small size, its diverse landscapes, contrasting seasons, unique climate and incredible biodiversity confirm it as an exceptional place for wildlife enthusiasts to enjoy year round.

Whether you’re a culture vulture keen to explore the impressive temples and UNESCO sites of the Cultural Triangle, a wildlife fanatic who hopes to spot the elusive leopard in Yala National Park, or a fervent foodie whose mouth waters at the tantalizing aromas of cardamom and coriander, here's our pick of the top Sri Lankan experiences that are not to be missed...

Mirissa is the gateway to Dondra Point. This is one of the best spots to witness the whale migrations in Sri Lanka from the Bay of Bengal - Sri Lanka’s southern sea is calm offering up the perfect conditions.

On a recent trip to Sri Lanka, Ellis was bowled over by this unique and calm country which is worlds apart from nearby India. From the fascinating culture of the north, to the scenic rolling hills of Tea Country and the beautiful golden beaches on the coast, there is no end to the country's beauty.

In Sri Lanka, festivals are an integral part of life and culture; with a population composed of many races and religions and given its long, ancient history – they are never short of celebrations. Here are a few of the significant festivals:

Tea is part of Sri Lanka’s unique cultural heritage and some of the world’s finest teas are produced here. Due to Sri Lanka’s diverse climate each tea variety is uniquely different. The country is particularly famous for Ceylon tea, recognised over the world for its high quality and distinct aroma (crisp and citrus).

The best of Sri Lanka and The Maldives in this luxurious journey that takes in Sri Lanka's ancient cities and tea plantations before flying off to one of the finest islands in The Maldives. It combines culture with some of the world's finest beaches.

Spotting the Big Five in Africa is often hailed as the holy grail of wildlife holidays, but plenty of other places around the world offer animal sightings impressive enough to rival Africa's, and Sri Lanka is certainly one of them. Here, we introduce you to Sri Lanka's own Big Five and give you all the information you need to go in search of these wild beasts...

The River House

Balapitiya, Sri Lanka

Best for: Culture History, Honeymoon, Spa

The River House, magically perched over the sacred Maduganga River near Balapitya on Sri Lanka’s West coast, is a deliciously seductive honeymoon retreat, offering stylish seclusion as well as fabulous nearby beaches and cultural treasures.

Inspired by traditional South Asian designs that make imaginative use of endemic Sri Lankan woods, antique furniture, tapestries and rattan, the River House makes a wonderfully romantic start or finish to a Sri Lanka holiday. The ample rest areas, fabulous gardens, shady nooks and mesmeric river views are matched by the five individually styled garden or river view suites, some of which include a plunge pool and/or Jacuzzi.

There are many terraces and living spaces where you can read a book or just relax and take in the beautiful views. There is an in-house library with interesting titles and a DVD library. Meals are served either in the dining area or in a location of your choice, and the friendly staff will be only too happy to set up a table in the garden, by the pool or along the river in a secluded location. Meal times are flexible, and it’s a great place to try mouth-watering dishes such as brinjal moju or pol sambol that blend rusticity and contemporary flair.

The infinity pool is spacious and secluded from the main house, in a quiet and relaxing location with panoramic views of the gardens. Comfortable sun beds surround the pool and there is also a pagoda that provides shade from the tropical sun. The gardens are scattered with ferns, orchids, and plenty of fruit trees attracting many rare birds which you can spot as you stroll one of the meandering paths. A game of badminton, carom, scrabble, even an ad hoc cricket match, can all be enjoyed in the lush grounds.

Although it will be hard to tear yourself away, there are endless opportunities to explore nearby. Take a safari up the tranquil Maduganga River passing unspoilt rural communities, an island cinnamon plantation and temples en route; experience a traditional masked dance in Ambalangoda; go out to sea in a catamaran with the fishermen, or explore quiet mangrove lagoons in a kayak. The sun-kissed beaches of Bentota are just a hop, skip and jump away, and here you can surf, snorkel and jet-ski, while a little further up the coast in Kosgoda you can watch turtle hatchlings scurry towards the Indian Ocean.

When to go

Sri Lanka is considered a sunny year round destination; there is always somewhere experiencing good weather on the island. However, there are huge regional differences. The Southwest ‘Yala’ Monsoons brings rain to the west and southwest coast, as well as the hill country, from April/May to September. During this time the north and east coasts are good. The northeast ‘Mahe’ monsoon is less extreme and brings rain to the east and north during October and November. This monsoon can bring a bit of rain to the south as well. Put simply; head to the south, central, hill country and western areas between December and March and ideally head to the north and eastern areas between April and September. We can never guarantee good weather but believe this is a good guide to follow.

We want to be really clear about this. We offer amazing value. Tailor-made does not have to mean expensive, it simply means attention to every detail of your trip arranged by a true expert.

Here at Imagine Asia, we are so confident that we offer the best value on the market that we have a price promise. If you find the exact same holiday cheaper with another UK tour operator, then we promise to beat their price by £50.

Rest assured that all our holidays are 100% financially protected. Our ATOL bond protects holidays booked in the UK with flights. Our ABTOT bond protects holidays which are booked without flights or those booked outside the UK, either with or without flights.

Protection means that in the unlikely event that we become insolvent; your holiday will be refunded or you will be repatriated if already travelling or have flights with us.